We Die: Our Seven Current Beauty Obsessions

Lucky for us, a slew of beauty products come into our lives each week. Some we’ve discovered during our all-too-frequent San Francisco shopping missions, while others have come to us from both local sources and those farther afield. Some are splurge items available at major stores, and others are downright steals available on etsy.

So away we go with seven of our current beauty obsessions:

L’Aromatica Fragrance Collection: Hand-mixed by local perfumer Loreto Remsing, this astonishingly diverse offering of all-natural scents is priced for the times. You can score an autumn fragrance such as Pumpkin Honey for a mere $15, but what we’d recommend is requesting a sampler pack ($3.50 for five tester vials or $8.50 for 10) to determine your favorite scents. Want to try them today? L’aromatica is also available at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art Museum Store.

NARS Sheer Matte Foundation: launched this summer, this double-duty skin-enhancer ($42) available in 20 shades not only controls shine as it sets the stage for make-up, but also contains a Vitamin C-rich complexion brightening formula designed to improve and brighten skin texture with repeated use.

Shu Uemura White Recovery EX+ Instant Spot Brightener: For use wherever you need a little skin pick-me-up, this brush-on skin treatment ($45) brightens and lightens dark under-eye circles and darker skin around the nose, treats age spots and diminishes acne scars with a combination of gentle exfoliating acids and skin brighteners. The wand-style applicator makes it easy to throw in your purse for touchups on the go.

Tan Towel: Summer in San Francisco is only just beginning, and we’d like to have a glow to go with the season. We tried the Tan Towel, and loved the subtle results. The streak-free, colorless tan towelette made for easy application and works best when you only want to add color to certain body parts, like the face and arms, for example. They come in individual packs that are great for traveling or stashing in your gym bag. Available at The Mission Statement.

Cosmedix Purity Clean Exfoliating Cleanser: We were immediately taken with the skin-stimulating effect of this lactic acid exfoliating cleanser. Best for normal to oily skin, this one works wonders in the morning, thanks to the energizing scent and circulation-boosting benefits of peppermint essential oil. Available at SenSpa.

Say Yes to Carrots C Through the Night Moisturizing Cream: Once you get past the ever-so-slightly clinical scent of this paraben-free night cream for normal to dry skin from San Francisco-based Yes to Carrots, you’ll find an excellent and inexpensive (around $14.99 at most retailers) overnight moisturizer packed with Dead Sea Minerals and antioxidants from Beta-Carotene. We’ve tried plenty of pricier creams, and this one stands out for its safe ingredients and ability to hydrate our skin without over-doing it.